8th annual Crime Victims’ Tribute set for Tuesday

The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office will host the eighth annual Crime Victims’ Tribute on Tuesday, with crime victims, community leaders, victim advocates, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and service professionals joining District Attorney Jeff Reisig to recognize victims’ rights and the devastating impact of crime on victims, schools, neighborhoods, and our nation as a whole.

The public is welcome to attend the event, which begins at noon at the Woodland Opera House, 340 Second St. in Woodland. Mrs. California 2007 Tracie Stafford, a crime survivor who now advocates for others, will deliver the keynote address.

Reisig will honor three individuals or families who have survived traumatic events. While grieving the loss of a loved one or still recovering from a terrifying assault, the victims also were occupied by the prosecution of their cases. This year’s honorees include:

* A domestic violence survivor who thought she had done everything she could to protect herself. She filed for a domestic-violence restraining order and, while waiting for it to be served on her abusive husband, he continued to make contact with her against her wishes.

During a six-month time span, police arrested the abusive husband on two occasions for violating court orders. Eventually, he was convicted of stalking the victim. The survivor’s courage and bravery to report the crimes and follow through with testimony was essential in the conviction of her batterer.

* An attempted murder victim, who was shot in the back of the head, had his throat slashed and was run over by his own car because two men wanted him dead. The victim spent two weeks in the hospital and six months recovering from this vicious assault.

He survived only because of his will to stay alive for his three minor children. His identification of one of his attackers led to both men’s arrest and conviction. Those men are now serving life terms in prison.

* The family of Alfonso Prado, who was shot and killed in 2006 during a robbery at his place of employment. Years later, DNA evidence linked a suspect to the crime and the murderer was prosecuted, found guilty and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.